As a nation, the British are brilliant at getting sunburnt: when the sun finally comes out or once we get off the plane somewhere hot, we tend to go a little nuts. Both sunburn and sunstroke respond well to homeopathy, so make sure you have the right remedies with you on holiday.
A note of caution first: if your burns are extreme, i.e. covering 5% or more of the body, if you have a fever over 40 degrees Celsius, if you have a fast pulse or feel dazed and confused, you need to seek medical help immediately. Be especially careful with children, whose skin is thinner and more sensitive. Especially in the case of sunstroke, ensure good hydration.
Belladonna is the remedy to reach for if the sunburn and sunstroke come along with a sudden and high fever, with a hot red face, dilated pupils and a banging headache.
The remedy Sol can be used for any ill-effects of the sun, including sunburn, sunstroke, sun headaches and just the tiredness you can get from having been out in strong sunshine.
Apis, a remedy that is also brilliant for insect bites or stings, also comes in very handy for sunburn when the skin becomes swollen, puffy and red.
In addition to the best suited homeopathic remedy, in the case of sunstroke, try to keep the body cool by covering with cold, wet towels or take a cold shower. Do remember the all important hydration and try to replace electrolytes lost in the process of overheating by adding lemon and Celtic sea salt to drinking water.
Go to www.helios.co.uk for all the remedies mentioned above, and I wish you very happy and healthy holidays.
